New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice-Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal on Sunday led the ‘#EkPedMaaKeNaam_OnSunday’ campaign by planting saplings at the Multi Storey Housing Complex in Aliganj, exhorting residents to continue nurturing plants till they mature as trees.
The event also marked the 38th consecutive Sunday of the ‘#EkPedMaaKeNaam_OnSunday’ campaign, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationwide call of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, an official statement said.
Chahal said that the continued participation of citizens over 38 consecutive Sundays demonstrates that environmental conservation is gradually becoming a people’s movement.
The campaign is creating sustained public participation rather than limiting plantation activities to a single day or occasion, he added.
On Sunday, a large number of young people, local residents, women, children, resident welfare association (RWA) representatives and NDMC officers and employees joined the plantation drive.
Speaking on the occasion, Chahal said that the campaign is no longer merely about putting a sapling into the soil, it is about creating a personal connection between citizens and the trees around them.
“Planting a sapling takes a few minutes, but nurturing it into a tree requires years of care. Our real responsibility begins after plantation. Every sapling needs water, protection and regular attention to survive and grow,” the NDMC Vice-Chairperson added.
He appreciated the enthusiastic participation of the youth, saying that their involvement is important for building an environmentally conscious generation.
He said that when young citizens actively participate in plantation and take responsibility for nurturing trees, the message of environmental conservation reaches every household and neighbourhood.
Chahal said that the unique strength of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ lies in its emotional connect.
By dedicating a tree to one’s mother, the campaign transforms environmental protection into a personal commitment.
“Our mothers nurture us throughout our lives. When we plant and nurture a tree in their name, we extend that same spirit of care towards nature. The tree we protect today can provide shade, cleaner air and a healthier environment to someone tomorrow,” he added.
He called upon residents and RWAs to adopt a simple three-step resolve: Plant, Protect and Nurture.
He said that citizens should not consider their responsibility complete after plantation.
“Instead, they (citizens) should regularly monitor the saplings, ensure watering, protect them from damage and help them survive through their initial years of growth.”
During the programme, local residents and RWA representatives also raised several civic and maintenance-related issues concerning the housing complex, including seepage, window repairs and other civil maintenance matters.
Chahal directed the NDMC officers concerned to conduct on-site inspections and take time-bound action on the issues raised by residents.
He said that regular interaction with RWAs and citizens provides valuable feedback on ground-level requirements and helps NDMC respond more effectively to local concerns.
–IANS
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